GLA & Co Advised Cognita Middle East's Acquisition of Dasman Bilingual Schools in Kuwait

GLA & Co Advised Cognita Middle East's Acquisition of Dasman Bilingual Schools in Kuwait

Regional powerhouse GLA & Co skillfully navigated the legal landscape as Cognita Middle East acquired a majority stake in Universe Education Company, owner of Kuwait's prestigious Dasman Bilingual Schools. This strategic partnership brings Cognita's educational expertise and elite school management to Dasman's unique foundation, solidifying Cognita's regional presence.

Joining forces with Addleshaw Goddard, GLA & Co brought their combined expertise to the table, ensuring a smooth and successful execution of the deal.

GLA & Co's comprehensive legal counsel steered Cognita Middle East through every stage of the acquisition, from deal structuring to regulatory compliance, meticulous due diligence, agreement negotiation, and securing Merger Control clearance from the Kuwait Competition Protection Agency.

Spanning continents from Europe to the Americas, Cognita, a leading global private schools group, nurtures and empowers over 75,000 learners through its network of schools. With a dedicated team of over 15,000 staff, Cognita delivers exceptional educational experiences that shape tomorrow's leaders.

Dasman Bilingual Schools, a beacon of educational excellence in Kuwait, embraces a transformative learning philosophy. Through inquiry, reflection, and collaborative experiences, Dasman empowers students to not just acquire knowledge but to delve deeper, question, and build essential skills and values that resonate in their everyday lives.

“The sophistication of Kuwait’s education sector presented an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate our strengths. We anticipate further high-magnitude transactions in the region, driven by the intense interest of the Kuwaiti people, government, and businesses in education. Contributing to the dynamic commercial and regulatory landscape of such demanding sectors is always gratifying. The successful closure, despite challenges, was made possible by the remarkable cooperation among all parties, reflecting their collective goodwill,” GLA Managing Partner Alex Saleh stated.

The GLA team leading the transaction comprised Managing Partner Alex Saleh and Partner Yousef Al-Amly, who were ably supported by Senior Associates Asad Ahmad and Mohammed Al Awadhi and Associates Khaled Al Makhezeem, Khaled Al-Khashab, Salma Farouq, Jehan Saleh, and Yousry Ibrahim.